Draft Agenda (Subject to Change)

conf 2025 banner image agenda

Tue, May 20

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: 
Better Listening to Help Transform Water Conflicts

8:30 AM Workshop Check-In/Light Refreshments 
9:00 AM Workshop Start Time

Tue, May 20

DAY 1 

  LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
11:30 AM SPONSOR CHECK-IN and SET-UP
12:00 PM Conference Registration Check-In (Ongoing)
1:00 PM

Conference Program Starts: Welcome/Opening Remarks

  • Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
  • Suresh Garimella, President, University of Arizona 
  • Austin Nuñez, Chairman, San Xavier District, Tohono O'odham Nation
1:20 PM

Special Dedications

  • To Be Announced (TBA)
1:35 PM

Keynote: Transforming Water Conflicts: Global Lessons in Hydrodiplomacy

  • Aaron Wolf, Professor, Oregon State University
  • Q&A
2:05 PM

Session 1: Frameworks for Collaboration Across Borders

  • Moderator – Meena Westford, Director of Imported Water, San Diego County Water Authority
  • Maria-Elena Giner, Commissioner, IBWC/CILA – US Section
  • Adriana Reséndez, Commissioner, IBWC/CILA – Mexican Section
  • Susan Daniel, Secretary, US Section of the International Joint Commission (Invited)
  • Q&A
2:50 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:05 PM

Session 2: Sharing the Colorado River

  • Moderator – TBA
  • Andrea Gerlak, Professor, University of Arizona, 
    Introduction and Overview: History and Operations of the Colorado River
  • Carlos A. De la Parra
    Evolution of Collaboration between US and Mexico on the Colorado River
  • Amelia Flores, Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes 
    Effective Tribal Consultation
  • Francisco Zamora, Senior Director of Programs, Sonoran Institute 
    Cross-border Collaborations with NGOs 
  • Q&A
4:00 PM

Session 3: Sharing Other Waters

  • Moderator – Roberto Molina, Associate Director West Region, North American Development Bank (NADBank) (Invited)
  • Gilbert Anaya, Chief, Environmental Management Division, IBWC/CILA – US Section and Blanca Cabello,
    Deputy Director of Water Quality and Sanitation, IBWC/CILA – Mexican Section 
    Understanding the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) and Advances 
    in Harmonizing Data Across Borders
  • Tanya Trujillo, Deputy State Engineer and Senior Water Policy Advisor, New Mexico 
    Update on the Rio Grande and Groundwater in New Mexico
  • Q&A
5:00 PM

Special Recognition: Chairwoman Amelia Flores and Day 1 Closing

  • Amelia Flores, Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes
  • Levi Esquerra, Senior Vice President for Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement, University of Arizona
  • Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
5:15 PM RECEPTION at Cork & Craft (U of A Student Union)

Wed, May 21

DAY 2

7:30 AM Day 2 Registration/BREAKFAST
8:30 AM

Welcome Back

  • Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
8:35 AM

Keynote: Infrastructure, Investment, and Binational Collaboration

  • John Beckham, Managing Director, North American Development Bank (NADBank)
  • Q&A
8:55 AM

Session 4: Water Security and Trade

  • Moderator – Natalie DeRoock, Administrator for Public Affairs, Tucson Water
  • Rob Simm, Senior Vice President, Emergent Sector Leader, Water, Stantec
    Future Prospects for Binational Desalination
  • Glenn Williamson, CEO, Canada Arizona Business Council
    Project Hourglass and Canadian Investments in the Water Sector
  • Michael Mendonca, Senior Director, Water Strategic Services, Salt River Project (SRP)
    Cross-border Partnerships for Water Augmentation and Flood Flow Capture at SRP’s Bartlett Dam
  • Ben Ruddell, Professor, School of Informatics Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University
    Virtual Water Across Borders
  • Francisco Lara, Professor, School of Transboundary Studies, Arizona State University
    Planning Across Borders
  • Q&A
10:00 AM

Session 5: Water Challenges and Funding

  • Moderator – Jake Golden, Water Resource Specialist, City of Phoenix (Invited)
  • Heather Whiteman Runs Him, Associate Clinical Professor and Director, Tribal Justice Clinic, University of Arizona
    Tribal Water Settlements and Funding for Tribal Water Infrastructure
  • Brian Bennon, Director of National Tribal Water Systems, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA)
    Operational Capacity Development and Cross-border Knowledge Sharing
  • Antonio Rascón and Ramon Macias, Principal Engineers, IBWC/CILA – Mexican and US Sections
    International Water Treatment Plants in San Diego-Tijuana and Ambos Nogales 
  • Chelsea McGuire, Director, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (Invited)
    WIFA’s Approach to Water Augmentation and Funding/Financing
  • Q&A
11:05 AM

Dear Body of Water Interlude

  • Gretchen E. Henderson, Poetry Center, University of Arizona (Invited)
11:10 AM NETWORKING BREAK
11:25 AM

Tribal Leader Keynotes

  • Introductions - Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, Co-Chair, Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network
  • Tribal Keynote Speakers - To Be Announced
12:30 PM LUNCH BUFFET OPENS
12:45 PM

Lunch Program: Arizona-Sonora Border Dialogue

  • Keynote Speakers - To Be Announced
2:15 PM

Session 6: Water Sector Collaborations

  • Moderator – Joaquin Marruffo, Border Programs Manager, Arizona Department of Water Quality 
  • John Kmiec, Director, Tucson Water
    Municipal Sector: Tucson’s Collaborations Across Borders
  • Joshua Moore, Farm Manager, Colorado River Indian Tribes Farms (Invited)
    Agricultural Sector: CRIT Farms and Water Conservation
  • Allison Moore, Executive Vice President, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
    Agricultural Sector: Cross-border Agricultural Production, Trade, and Transportation
  • Sandy Fabritz, Director of Water Strategy, Freeport McMoRan (Invited)
    Mining Sector: Innovations in Mining Water Use 
  • Q&A
3:10 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:25 PM

Session 7: Data and Knowledge Sharing

  • Moderator – Holly Estrada Mechsner, Executive Director, Canada Arizona Business Council
  • Susan Montgomery, Attorney, Montgomery & Interpreter, PLC
    Building Trust through Data and Collaborative Modeling
  • Rosario Sanchez, Senior Research Scientist, Texas Water Resources Institute
    Binational Knowledge Sharing Platform
  • Elia Tapia, Professor, Universidad de Sonora
    Translating Science
4:10 PM

US Bureau of Reclamation Update 

  • Introduction – Alexander Smith, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office
  • Carly Jerla, Post-2026 Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation 
  • Amy Witherall, Binational Program Manager, Lower Colorado River Basin Region, Bureau of Reclamation
4:30 PM

Keynote: Status of Colorado River Negotiations

  • Introduction – Jamie McEvoy, Associate Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
  • Tom Buschatzke, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources (Invited)
4:50 PM Conference Closing Remarks
5:00 PM End of Conference

Date Modified: